Given the choice between AI and Corel, and I do have a choice as I own current copies of both (as much as you can "own" an Adobe product now) I much prefer CorelDraw's vector program. Those dismissing Corel without trying it are doing themselves a disservice IMHO. It's far better than given credit for, particularly the text controls.

Interesting how people are criticising it before even really seeing it, let alone actually using it...

On a serious note, it’s really nice to see a company offer software with a one time purchase. Like how it should be. Even if it is rather expensive.

Encouraging subscriptions is something I feel that Apple has gotten terribly wrong. Take it to the next step and we’ll be buying subscriptions to keep using our iPhones and Macs and TVs by holding the software that runs them hostage to a subscription charge. Doing that with apps is barely any different, considering we rely on apps to make our hardware useful.

Interesting how people are criticising it before even really seeing it, let alone actually using it...

On a serious note, it’s really nice to see a company offer software with a one time purchase. Like how it should be. Even if it is rather expensive.

Encouraging subscriptions is something I feel that Apple has gotten terribly wrong. Take it to the next step and we’ll be buying subscriptions to keep using our iPhones and Macs and TVs by holding the software that runs them hostage to a subscription charge. Doing that with apps is barely any different, considering we rely on apps to make our hardware useful.

Affinity Designer and Photo are purchased programs for a reasonable price. I recommend them both, and can't wait for their InDesign competitor, Publisher. The beta is awesome! Much rather give Affinity my money for purchases than Adobe for rentals.

FWIW very few of my customers send only AI files and outside vendors rarely insist on them. Some don't even want them. Most often it's EPS or PDF when doing file exchanges between ourselves and clients.

unpopular opinion: behind the awful free fonts and clip art was a vector drawing app that was at least a decade ahead of Adobe Illustrator, so obviously better I still get furious

Not even close. And yes back in the day i owned a pc too and i had CorelDRAW i stalled. CorelDRAW postscript took forever to print. Illustrator was way beter. CorelDRAW had loads of gimmick like tools. Bezier drawing felt so much beter in Illustrator.So Illustrator didn't had the fancy stuff but was way more pro.

FWIW very few of my customers send only AI files and outside vendors rarely insist on them. Some don't even want them. Most often it's EPS or PDF when doing file exchanges between ourselves and clients.

Well, all I can say is that we use vendors from across the country, and the file type they want is Illustrator, for print, banners, posters, even booth graphics. It's been that way since the last days of Pagemaker. You may be the exception. I'm not saying nothing else will possibly work, just that the pre-press guys are going to be pissed.

FWIW very few of my customers send only AI files and outside vendors rarely insist on them. Some don't even want them. Most often it's EPS or PDF when doing file exchanges between ourselves and clients.

Well, all I can say is that we use vendors from across the country, and the file type they want is Illustrator, for print, banners, posters, even booth graphics. It's been that way since the last days of Pagemaker. You may be the exception. I'm not saying nothing else will possibly work, just that the pre-press guys are going to be pissed.

You aren't given options to send EPS or PDF in addition to/instead of AI? That's odd.

I print thousands of banners, posters, vehicle wraps, and yes even booth (trade show) graphics for customers across the region every year and have done so for well over a decade. I would not insist customers only submit artwork in AI format. I'd lose more than a few jobs and even customers if I did so.

Well, all I can say is that we use vendors from across the country, and the file type they want is Illustrator, for print, banners, posters, even booth graphics. It's been that way since the last days of Pagemaker. You may be the exception. I'm not saying nothing else will possibly work, just that the pre-press guys are going to be pissed.

You aren't given options to send EPS or PDF in addition to/instead of AI? That's odd.

I print thousands of banners, posters, vehicle wraps, and yes even booth (trade show) graphics for customers across the region every year and have done so for well over a decade. I would not insist customers only submit artwork in AI format. I'd lose more than a few jobs and even customers if I did so.

I worked with pre press for textiles and preferred AI-files. EPS was also fine. PDF not so much as they could be harder to edit.